en.Wedoany.com Reported - Under the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), €3.2 billion in funding is being injected into the Portuguese economy through 51 mobilization agendas. Among them, the mobility consortium "Route 25" has been allocated €35 million to develop autonomous, intelligent, interoperable, and inclusive mobility technologies. Led by Capgemini, the consortium brings together 29 partners, with the number of development projects increasing from an initial 47 to 58. Elisa Bacelo, Consortium Manager and Capgemini Engagement Manager, stated that the technical execution of the projects is largely complete, with all projects expected to be delivered on time, having been "successfully completed" and exceeding initial expectations. She acknowledged a time lag between actual execution and formal financial reporting but attributed the discrepancy to bureaucratic issues that are about to be resolved. In the second half of this year, efforts will shift to result demonstration, promotion, and public outreach to ensure the solutions are widely known and accelerate market adoption.
Some solutions have already entered the integration phase, particularly in connectivity, smart mobility management, infrastructure monitoring, and decision support. Smart traffic management systems, integrated mobility digital platforms, and road preventive maintenance tools are expected to appear in cities in the short term. The introduction of highly autonomous passenger or freight vehicles will follow a gradual pace, depending on safety validation and national regulations. In 2025, multiple large-scale demonstrations have already taken place in cities such as Aveiro, Ílhavo, Porto, and Fundão.
Route 25 advances along three axes: vehicle electrification, cooperative, connected and automated mobility (CCAM), and Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Below are some representative projects:
The CEMUS project (PPS 7), developed by SmartLampPost, transforms public lighting poles into electric vehicle charging facilities, integrating connectivity, security, environmental monitoring, smart lighting, and digital services. A pilot project was installed and validated at Amália Rodrigues Square in Fundão and is currently in the final stage of connecting to the distribution grid. According to IAPMEI, market interest has been confirmed from four types of entities: Portuguese municipalities, charging point operators, telecommunications network operators, and infrastructure investment funds. Priority European markets for internationalization are Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom.
The AI-assisted traffic management platform (PPS 28) integrates data from Waze, smart sensors, and radar counters, using predictive models to forecast short-term traffic flow and speed changes, and identifying anomalies such as vehicle breakdowns or wrong-way driving through AI video analysis. The system features route creation capabilities, suggesting alternative routes during congestion, and can communicate with infrastructure such as variable message signs.
The traffic light and vehicle interaction project (PPS 32) integrates V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) technology into existing traffic light infrastructure, enabling real-time communication between vehicles and traffic control systems. It should be noted that vehicles must be equipped with dedicated devices, and system access is controlled; not any vehicle can freely communicate with traffic lights. Emergency vehicles can send priority requests (green light) to pass quickly and safely. This solution has been tested in real urban scenarios in Porto, demonstrating the correct operation of V2X communication and the real-time adjustment capability of the traffic light system.
The battery degradation and fault prediction solution (PPS 40), developed by Stratio, uses AI to monitor the status of electric vehicle batteries, predict their degradation and remaining useful life, and provide early warnings of potential faults. Elisa Bacelo stated that the system has detected cases of issues resolved under warranty, saving thousands of euros in battery replacement costs. Data shows that a battery degradation rate of 2.5% to 3.0% per year for electric buses is within the normal range.
The private 5G network project (PPS 47), co-led by Capgemini Portugal, Instituto de Telecomunicações, Vodafone Portugal, and VORTEX-CoLab, has created a facility called "5G Box," offering advanced communication capabilities, AI-supported local processing, and dynamic management of network resources. The network has demonstrated robustness and stability in real-time communication tests, supporting emergency coordination in civil protection, remote monitoring of assets in critical infrastructure, and highly automated environments in advanced industry.
The 5G network performance assurance solution (PPS 48) uses AI to predict the behavior of 5G networks in real-time within connected mobility environments, providing early warnings of performance changes. According to IAPMEI, the research results of this technology have been published and validated at internationally renowned conferences, enhancing its credibility. It is currently mainly in the prototype, testing, and demonstration phase.
